Admissions Testing
When admissions testing is required the division counselor
administers standardized tests of the Educational Records Bureau (ERB)
in English and mathematics. Candidates entering the Brazilian Program
are also tested in Portuguese. Candidates are expected to fall within
the range of percentiles achieved by admitted Escola Americana
students.
Lower School students whose native language is not English will be
required to take an English as a Second Language (ESL) test for
placement into the ESL support program. The IPT (Idea Proficiency Test)
assesses reading, writing and oral proficiency in English. The test
results determine placement and the ESL program they will
receive.
The Learning Specialist of the division and the School Psychologist
review previous testing results of students with documented learning
disabilities. If necessary, specialized tests
are administered to determine eligibility for Resource Center
assistance.
Preschool, kindergarten, and first grade admission is based on an
observation by a team consisting of 2 teachers, the Lower School
Counselor, and the School Psychologist. Small groups of children
participate in the observation which consists of
developmentally-appropriate activities that assess language and motor
skill development, listening comprehension, ability to follow
directions and overall readiness. The observation session is conducted
in Portuguese or English, depending on the language spoken by the
children. The qualitative data of the observation is transformed into a
quantitative score that has been normed to the school’s expectations
for the student’s age. Candidates for first grade are also tested for
basic reading and writing skills appropriate for students who have
completed a kindergarten program or its equivalent.

